N-sulfonylimidazoles as peroxygen activators

ABSTRACT

A process of removing soil and/or stains from fabrics by immersing the fabrics in a peroxygen bleach bath containing as a peroxygen activator an N-sulfonylimidazole of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R 2 , R 3  and R 4  are each selected from the class consisting of hydrogen, halogen, alkoxy of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, carbonylmethoxy, nitro, an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, a cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical of 3 to 7 carbon atoms, an aromatic hydrocarbon radical of the benzene and naphthalene series and a heterocyclic radical of 1 to 2 rings each containing 5 to 6 members of which 1 to 2 are heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur while taken together R 3  and R 4  can complete a benzene ring and R 1  is a hydrocarbon or heterocyclic radical as above defined for R 2 , R 3  and R 4 . Also described are dry blend compositions containing the bleach bath components.

This invention relates to active oxygen compositions. In particular, the invention is concerned with activated peroxygen compounds and their application to laundering operations.

The use of bleaching agents as laundering aids is well known. In fact, such entities are considered necessary adjuncts for cleaning today's fabrics which embrace a wide spectrum of synthetic, natural and modified natural fiber systems, each differing in washing characteristics.

Laundry bleaches generally fall into one of two categories; active oxygen-releasing or peroxygen and active chlorine-releasing. Of the two, the chlorine bleach is more likely to react with the various components of a detergent washing formulation than peroxygen bleaches. Moreover, fabrics treated with chlorine bleaches exhibit significant loss of strength and depending on the frequency of bleaching, the useful life of the cloth may be appreciably reduced; with dyed fabrics, colors are often degraded. Another objection to chlorine bleaches is their pronounced tendency to cause yellowing, particularly with synthetics and resin treated fabrics. Peroxygen bleaches are substantially free of such adverse side effects.

Despite their many advantages, bleaching agents of the active oxygen-releasing type are as a class not optimally effective until use temperatures exceed about 85° C., usually 90° C., or higher. This rather critical temperature-dependency of peroxygen bleaching agents and especially the persalt bleaches such as sodium perborate poses a rather serious drawback since many household washing machines are now being operated at water temperatures less than about 60° C., well below those necessary to render bleaching agents such as the perborates adequately effective. Although the near boiling washing temperatures employed in Europe and some other countries favor the use of peroxygen bleaches, it can be expected that such temperatures will be lowered in the interest of conserving energy. Consequently, where a comparatively high order of bleaching activity at reduced temperature is desired, resort must be had to chlorine bleaches despite their attendant disadvantages, i.e., impairment of fabric strength, fabric discoloration, etc.

In an effort to realize the full potential of peroxygen bleaches, such materials have been the focus of considerable research and development effort over the years. One result of these investigations was the finding that certain substances, activators as they are usually called, have the capacity of amplifying the bleaching power of peroxygen compounds below about 60° C. where many home washing machines are commonly operated, or preferably operated. Although the precise mechanism of peroxygen bleach activation is not known, it is believed that activator-peroxygen interaction leads to the formation of an intermediate species which constitutes the active bleaching entity. In a sense, then, the activator-peroxygen component functions as a precursor system by which the in situ generation of species providing effective bleaching means is made possible.

Although numerous compounds have been proposed and tested as peroxygen bleach activators, a satisfactory candidate has thus far not been forthcoming. Perhaps the primary objection is the failure to provide the desired degree of bleaching activity within the limitations imposed by economically feasible practice. Thus, it is often necessary to utilize the activator compound in inordinately high concentrations in order to achieve satisfactory results; in other instances, it is found that a given activator is not generally applicable and thus may be used advantageously only in conjunction with rather specific and delimited types of peroxygen bleaching agents. Other disadvantages characterizing many of the activator compounds thus far contemplated include, for example, the difficulties associated with their incorporation into detergent powder compositions including stability problems and short shelf life. Since many of the activators are liquids under normal conditions, the blending of such materials into solid products is not practical, at least so far as home application is concerned. Moreover, ancillary techniques specifically devised for purposes of facilitating activator-detergent powder blending in such instances are often economically prohibitive, the results obtained failing to justify the involved costs.

Classes of compounds which are representative of prior art activators for peroxygen bleaches include carboxylic acid anhydrides disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,284,477, 3,532,634 and 3,298,775; carboxylic esters disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,955,905; N-substituted, N-acylnitrobenzenesulfonamides disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,321,497; N-benzoylsaccharin disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,886,078; N-acyl compounds such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,912,648 and 3,919,102 and aromatic sulfonyl chlorides disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 90980 of Nov. 27, 1973; N-sulfonylimides are disclosed in Offenlegungsschrift No. 1,802,015 published June 19, 1969; N-acylazolinones are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,775,333.

While certain of these activators are effective in varying degrees, there is a continuing need for candidate compounds of improved performance and properties.

It has now been discovered that the bleaching capacity of peroxygen bleaches at low temperatures is increased by contacting them with an N-sulfonylimidazole activator compound and the provision of bleaching compositions containing such components and the use thereof alone or in conjunction with conventional laundering processes and materials to treat soiled and/or stained fabrics constitutes the principal object and purpose of the invention. Other objects and purposes will become apparent subsequently herein.

The N-sulfonylimidazole activator compounds aforesaid can be depicted by the following formula: ##STR2## wherein R₂, R₃ and R₄ are each selected from the class consisting of hydrogen, halogen, alkoxy of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, carbonylmethoxy, nitro, an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, a cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical of 3 to 7 carbon atoms, an aromatic hydrocarbon radical of the benzene and naphthalene series and a heterocyclic radical of 1 to 2 rings each containing 5 to 6 members of which 1 to 2 are heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur while taken together R₃ and R₄ can complete a benzene ring and R₁ is a hydrocarbon or heterocyclic radical as above defined for R₂, R₃ and R₄.

N-sulfonylimidazoles are well know chemical entities the description of which is documented in the technical and patent literature. They are conveniently prepared by reacting a sulfonyl chloride with an imidazole and elimination of HCl. In carrying out the synthesis, a mole excess of the imidazole is used to take up the HCl. The equation set forth below illustrates the reaction: ##STR3##

Illustrative N-sulfonylimidazoles falling within the ambit of the formula aforesaid include the following:

1-(p-tolylsulfonyl)imidazole

1-Phenylsulfonylimidazole

1-Methylsulfonylimidazole

2,4-Dimethyl-1-(p-tolylsulfonyl)imidazole

2,4,5-Trimethyl-1-(p-tolylsulfonyl)imidazole

2,4-Dimethyl-1-(p-tolylsulfonyl)imidazole

2,4,5-Triisopropyl-1-(p-tolylsulfonyl)imidazole

2-Benzyl-1-phenylsulfonylimidazole

1-Butylsulfonyl-4-methylimidazole

5-Chloro-1-(p-tolylsulfonyl)imidazole

1-Cyclohexylsulfonylimidazole

2-Cyclohexyl-1-decylsulfonylimidazole

4,5-Diethyl-1-phenylsulfonylimidazole

2-Pentyl-1-(p-tolylsulfonyl)imidazole

1-(2-Pyridylsulfonyl)-4-tetradecylimidazole

2-Phenyl-1-phenylsulfonylbenzimidazole

5-Bromo-1-cyclohexylsulfonylbenzimidazole

5-Methoxy-1-(p-tolylsulfonyl)benzimidazole

5-Bromo-2-(4-thiazolyl)-1-(p-tolylsulfonyl)benzimidazole

1-(2-Naphthylsulfonyl)benzimidazole

1-(p-Tolylsulfonyl)benzimidazole

1-Phenylsulfonyl-2-isopropylbenzimidazole

1-Methanesulfonylbenzimidazole

1-Phenylsulfonylbenzimidazole

In accordance with the invention, low temperature bleaching (i.e. below about 60° C.) of stained and/or soiled fabrics is effected by contacting them with a solution containing an N-sulfonylimidazole activator herein and an active oxygen-releasing compound. The active oxygen-releasing compounds include such peroxygen compounds as hydrogen peroxide or those peroxygen compounds that liberate hydrogen peroxide in aqueous media. Examples of such peroxygen compounds are urea peroxide, alkali metal perborates, percarbonates, perphosphates, persulfates, monopersulfates and the like. Combinations of two or more peroxygen bleaches can be used where desired. The same holds true in the case of the activators. Although any number of peroxygen compounds are suitable in carrying out the invention, a preferred compound is sodium peroborate tetrahydrate, since it is a readily available commercial product. Another suitable persalt is sodium carbonate peroxide.

Sufficient peroxygen compounds to provide from about 2 ppm to 2,000 ppm active oxygen in solution are used. For home bleaching applications, the concentration of active oxygen in the wash water is desirably from about 5 to 100 ppm, preferably about 15 to 60 ppm. Sodium perborate tetrahydrate, the preferred peroxygen compound, contains 10.4% active oxygen. The actual concentration employed in a given bleaching solution can be varied widely, depending on the intended use of the solution.

The concentration of the N-sulfonylimidazole in the bleaching solution depends to a large extent on the concentration of the peroxygen compound which, in turn, depends on the particular use for which a given composition is formulated. Higher or lower levels can be selected according to the needs of the formulator. Overall, increased bleaching results are realized when the active oxygen of the peroxygen compound and N-sulfonylimidazole are present in a mole ratio in the range of from about 20:1 to 1:3, preferably from about 10:1 to 1:1.

Activation of the peroxygen bleaches is generally carried out in aqueous solution at a pH of from about 6 to about 12, most preferably 8.0 to 10.5. Since an aqueous solution of persalts or peracids is generally acidic, it is necessary to maintain the requisite pH conditions by means of buffering agents. Buffering agents suitable for use herein include any non-interfering compound which can alter and/or maintain the solution pH within the desired range, and the selection of such buffers can be made by referring to a standard text.

For instance, phosphates, carbonates, or bicarbonates, which buffer within the pH range of 6 to 12 are useful. Examples of suitable buffering agents include sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium silicate, disodium hydrogen phosphate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate. The bleach solution may also contain a detergent agent where bleaching and laundering of the fabric is carried out simultaneously. The strength of the detergent agent is commonly about 0.05% to 0.80% (wt.) in the wash water.

Although the activator, buffer and peroxygen compound can be employed individually in formulating the bleach solutions of the invention, it is generally more convenient to prepare a dry blend of these components and the resulting composition added to water to produce the bleach solution. A soap organic detergent can be incorporated into the composition to give a solution having both washing and bleaching properties. Organic detergents suitable for use in accordance with the present invention encompass a relatively wide range of materials and may be of the anionic, non-ionic, cationic or amphoteric types.

The anionic surface active agents include those surface active or detergent compounds which contain an organic hydrophobic group and an anionic solubilizing group. Typical examples of anionic solubilizing groups are sulfonate, sulfate, carboxylate, phosphonate and phosphate. Examples of suitable anionic detergents which fall within the scope of the invention include the soaps, such as the water-soluble salts of higher fatty acids or rosin acids, such as may be derived from fats, oils, and waxes of animal, vegetable or marine origin, e.g., the sodium soaps of tallow, grease, coconut oil, tall oil and mixtures thereof; and the sulfated and sulfonated synthetic detergents, particularly those having about 8 to 26, and preferably about 12 to 22, carbon atoms to the molecule.

As examples of suitable synthetic anionic detergents the higher alkyl mononuclear aromatic sulfonates are preferred particularly the LAS type such as the higher alkyl benzene sulfonates containing from 10 to 16 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, e.g., the sodium salts such as decyl, undecyl, dodecyl (lauryl), tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, or hexadecyl benzene sulfonate and the higher alkyl toluene, xylene and phenol sulfonates; alkyl naphthalene sulfonate, ammonium diamyl naphthalene sulfonate, and sodium dinonyl naphthalene sulfonate.

Other anionic detergents are the olefin sulfonates including long chain alkene sulfonates, long chain hydroxyalkane sulfonates or mixtures of alkenesulfonates and hydroxyalkanesulfonates. These olefin sulfonate detergents may be prepared, in known manner, by the reaction of SO₃ with long chain olefins (of 8-25 preferably 12-21 carbon atoms) of the formula RCH--CHR₁, where R is alkyl and R₁ is alkyl or hydrogen, to produce a mixture of sultones and alkenesulfonic acids, which mixture is then treated to convert the sultones to sulfonates. Examples of other sulfate or sulfonate detergents are paraffin sulfonates, such as the reaction products of alpha olefins and bisulfites (e.g. sodium bisulfite), e.g., primary paraffin sulfonates of about 10-20 preferably about 15-20 carbon atoms; sulfates of higher alcohols; salts of α-sulfofatty esters (e.g. of about 10 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl α-sulfomyristate or α-sulfotallowate).

Examples of sulfates of higher alcohols are sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium tallow alcohol sulfate; Turkey Red Oil or other sulfated oils, or sulfates of mono- or diglycerides of fatty acids (e.g. stearic monoglyceride monosulfate), alkyl poly(ethenoxy) ether sulfates such as the sulfates of the condensation products of ethylene oxide and lauryl alcohol (usually having 1 to 5 ethenoxy groups per molecule); lauryl or other higher alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonates; aromatic poly(ethenoxy) ether sulfates such as the sulfates of the condensation products of ethylene oxide and nonyl phenol (usually having 1 to 20 oxyethylene groups per molecule, preferably 2-12).

The suitable anionic detergents include also the acyl sarcosinates (e.g. sodium lauroylsarcosinate) the acyl ester (e.g. oleic acid ester) of isethionates, and the acyl N-methyl taurides (e.g. potassium N-methyl lauroyl or oleyl tauride).

Other highly preferred water soluble anionic detergent compounds are the ammonium and substituted ammonium (such as mono-, di- and triethanolamine), alkali metal (such as sodium and potassium) and alkaline earth metal (such as calcium and magnesium) salts of the higher alkyl sulfates, and the higher fatty acid monoglyceride sulfates. The particular salt will be suitably selected depending upon the particular formulation and the proportions therein.

Nonionic surface active agents include those surface active or detergent compounds which contain an organic hydrophobic group and a hydrophilic group which is a reaction product of a solubilizing group such as carboxylate, hydroxyl, amido or amino with ethylene oxide or with the polyhydration product thereof, polyethylene glycol.

As examples of nonionic surface active agents which may be used there may be noted the condensation products of alkyl phenols with ethylene oxide, e.g., the reaction product of octyl phenol with about 6 to 30 ethylene oxide units; condensation products of alkyl thiophenols with 10 to 15 ethylene oxide units; condensation products of higher fatty alcohols such as tridecyl alcohol with ethylene oxide; ethylene oxide addends of monoesters of hexahydric alcohols and inner ethers thereof such as sorbitol monolaurate, sorbitol mono-oleate and mannitol monopalmitate, and the condensation products of polypropylene glycol with ethylene oxide.

Cationic surface active agents may also be employed. Such agents are those surface active detergent compounds which contain an organic hydrophobic group and a cationic solubilizing group. Typical cationic solubilizing groups are amine and quaternary groups.

As examples of suitable synthetic cationic detergents there may be noted the diamines such as those of the type RNHC₂ H₄ NH₂ wherein R is an alkyl group of about 12 to 22 carbon atoms, such as N-2-aminoethyl stearyl amine and N-2-aminoethyl myristyl amine; amide-linked amines such as those of the type R₁ CONHC₂ H₄ NH₂ wherein R is an alkyl group of about 9 to 20 carbon atoms, such as N-2-amino ethyl stearyl amide and N-amino ethyl myristyl amide; quaternary ammonium compounds wherein typically one of the groups linked to the nitrogen atom are alkyl groups which contain 1to 3 carbon atoms, including such 1 to 3 carbon alkyl groups bearing inert substituents, such as phenyl groups, and there is present an anion such as halide, acetate, methosulfate, etc. Typical quaternary ammonium detergents are ethyl-dimethyl-stearyl ammonium chloride, benzyl-dimethyl-stearyl ammonium chloride, benzyl-diethyl-stearyl ammonium chloride, trimethyl stearyl ammonium chloride, trimethyl-cetyl ammonium bromide, dimethylethyl dilauryl ammonium chloride, dimethyl-propyl-myristyl ammonium chloride, and the corresponding methosulfates and acetates.

Examples of suitable amphoteric detergents are those containing both an anionic and a cationic group and a hydrophobic organic group, which is advantageously a higher aliphatic radical, e.g., of 10-20 carbon atoms. Among these are the N-long chain alkyl aminocarboxylic acids e.g. of the formula ##STR4## the N-long chain alkyl iminodicarboxylic acids (e.g. of the formula RN(R'COOH)₂) and the N-long chain alkyl betaines e.g. of the formula ##STR5## where R is a long chain alkyl group, e.g. of about 10-20 carbons, R' is a divalent radical joining the amino and carboxyl portions of an amino acid (e.g. an alkylene radical of 1-4 carbon atoms), H is hydrogen or a salt-forming metal, R₂ is a hydrogen or another monovalent substituent (e.g. methyl or other lower alkyl), and R₃ and R₄ are monovalent substituents joined to the nitrogen by carbon-to-nitrogen bonds (e.g. methyl or other lower alkyl substituents). Examples of specific amphoteric detergents and N-alkyl-beta-aminopropionic acid; N-alkyl-beta-iminodipropionic acid, and N-alkyl, N,N-dimethyl glycine; the alkyl group may be, for example, that derived from coco fatty alcohol, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol (or a lauryl-myristyl mixture), hydrogenated tallow alcohol, cetyl, stearyl, or blends of such alcohols. The substituted aminopropionic and iminodipropionic acids are often supplied in the sodium or other salt forms, which may likewise be used in the practice of this invention. Examples of other amphoteric detergents are the fatty imidazolines such as those made by reacting a long chain fatty acid (e.g. of 10 to 20 carbon atoms) with diethylene triamine and monohalocarboxylic acids having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, e.g. 1-coco-5-hydroxyethyl-5-carboxymethylimidazoline; betaines containing a sulfonic group instead of the carboxylic group; betaines in which the long chain substituent is joined to the carboxylic group without an intervening nitrogen atom, e.g. inner salts of 2-trimethylamino fatty acids such as 2-trimethylaminolauric acid, and compounds of any of the previously mentioned types but in which the nitrogen atom is replaced by phosphorus.

The instant compositions optionally contain a detergency builder of the type commonly added to detergent formulations. Useful builders herein include any of the conventional inorganic and organic water-soluble builder salts. Inorganic detergency builders useful herein include, for example, water-soluble salts of phosphates, pyrophosphates, orthophosphates, polyphosphates, silicates, carbonates, zeolites, including natural and synthetic and the like. Organic builders include various water-soluble phosphonates, polyphosphonates, polyhydroxysulfonates, polyacetates, carboxylates, polycarboxylates, succinates, and the like.

Specific examples of inorganic phosphate builders include sodium and potassium tripolyphosphates, phosphates, and hexametaphosphates. The organic polyphosphonates specifically include, for example, the sodium and potassium salts of ethane 1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonic acid and the sodium and potassium salts of ethane-1,1,2-triphosphonic acid. Examples of these and other phosphorus builder compounds are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,159,581, 3,213,030, 3,422,021, 3,422,137, 3,400,176 and 3,400,148, incorporated herein by reference. Sodium tripolyphosphate is an especially preferred, water-soluble inorganic builder herein.

Non-phosphorus containing sequestrants can also be selected for use herein as detergency builders.

Specific examples of non-phosphorus, inorganic builder ingredients include water-soluble inorganic carbonate, bicarbonate, and silicate salts. The alkali metal, e.g. sodium and potassium, carbonates, bicarbonates, and silicates are particularly useful herein.

Water-soluble, organic builders are also useful herein. For example, the alkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium polyacetates, carboxylates, polycarboxylates and polyhydroxysulfonates are useful builders in the present compositions and processes. Specific examples of the polyacetate and polycarboxylate builder salts include sodium, potassium, lithium, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, oxydisuccinic acid, mellitic acid, benzene polycarboxylic (i.e., penta- and tetra-) acids, carboxymethoxysuccinic acid and citric acid.

Highly preferred non-phosphorus builder materials (both organic and inorganic) herein include sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium silicate, sodium citrate, sodium oxydisuccinate, sodium mellitate, sodium nitrilotriacetate, and sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate, and mixtures thereof.

Other preferred organic builders herein are the polycarboxylate builders set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,308,067, incorporated herein by reference. Examples of such materials include the water-soluble salts of homo- and copolymers of aliphatic carboxylic acids such as maleic acid, itaconic acid, mesaconic acid, fumaric acid, aconitic acid, citraconic acid and methylenemalonic acid.

The builders aforesaid, particularly the inorganic types, can function as buffers to provide the requisite alkalinity for the bleaching solution. Where the builder does not exhibit such buffer activity, an alkaline reacting salt can be incorporated in the formulation.

The dry blend compositions of the invention contain about 0.1 to 50% (wt.), preferably 0.5 to 20% (wt.) of the herein N-sulfonylimidazole activator. It will be appreciated that the concentration of activator will depend on the concentration of the peroxygen bleach compound which is governed by the particular degree of bleaching desired. Higher or lower levels within the range will be selected to meet the requirement of the formulator. As to the peroxygen bleaching agent, this is present to the extent of about 1 to 75% (wt.) of the composition, depending on the degree of bleaching activity desired. Generally speaking, optimal bleaching is obtained when the compositions are formulated with a peroxygen/N-sulfonylimidazole mole ratio in the range of from about 20:1 to 1:3, preferably about 10:1 to about 1:1. The composition will contain a buffering agent in sufficient quantity to maintain a pH of about 6 to 12 when the composition is dissolved in water. The buffering agent can constitute from about 1% to about 95% (wt.) of the dry blended composition.

The herein activated bleach compositions can be provided for use in combination with a detergent agent or as a fully-formulated built detergent. Such compositions wll comprise from about 5 to 50% of the activated bleach system, from about 5 to 50% (wt.) of the detergent agent and optionally from about 1 to 60% (wt.) of a detergency builder which can also function as a buffer to provide the requisite pH range when the composition is added to water.

The compositions herein can include detergent adjunct materials and carriers commonly found in laundering and cleaning compositions. For example, various perfumes, optical brighteners, fillers anti-caking agents, fabric softeners, and the like can be present to provide the usual benefits occasioned by the use of such materials in detergent compositions. Enzymes, especially the thermally stable proteolytic and lipolytic enzymes used in laundry detergents, also can be dry-mixed in the compositions herein.

The solid peroxygen bleaching compositions herein are prepared by simply admixing the ingredients. When preparing mixed detergent/bleaches, the peroxygen and activator can be mixed either directly with the detergent compound, builder, etc., or the peroxygen and activator can be separately or collectively coated with a water-soluble coating material to prevent premature activation of the bleaching agent. The coating process is conducted according to known procedures in the art utilizing known coating materials. Suitable coating materials include compounds such as magnesium sulfate hydrate, polyvinyl alcohol, or the like.

Evaluation of Compounds as Bleach Activators

Compounds of the invention were evaluated for bleach activating efficacy by determining the increase in percent tea stain removal (%TSR) achieved by use of both the peroxygen source and activator compared with that obtained by use of the peroxygen source alone. Both tests were performed under otherwise identical low temperature laundering conditions. The increase in %TSR is called Δ%TSR. The evaluation was carried out in the presence of a detergent formulation and sodium perborate tetrahydrate as the source of peroxygen compound.

Tea-stained cotton and 65% dacron/35% cotton swatches (5 inches × 5 inches) used in these tests were prepared as follows: For each 50 swatches, 2000 ml of tap water was heated to boiling in a four-liter beaker. Reflectance readings were made on each swatch, using a Hunter Model D-40 Reflectometer before staining. Two family size tea bags were added to each beaker and boiling was continued for five minutes. The tea bags were then removed and 50 fabric swatches were added to each beaker. The dacron/cotton and 100% cotton swatches were boiled in the tea solution for seven and five minutes respectively, after which the entire content of each beaker was transferred to a centrifuge and rotated for about 0.5 minutes.

The swatches were then dried for thirty minutes in a standard household laundry drier. One hundred dry swatches were rinsed four times by agitating manually in 2000 ml portions of cold tap water. The swatches were dried in the household drier for approximately 40 minutes; they were allowed to age for at least three days before use. Reflectance readings for each swatch were taken prior to bleaching tests, using a Hunter Model D-40 Reflectometer.

Three stained cotton and polyester/cotton swatches were added to each of several stainless steel Terg-O-Tometer vessels containing 1000 ml of 0.15% detergent solution, maintained at a constant temperature of 105° F. The Terg-O-Tometer is a test washing device manufactured by the U.S. Testing Company. The detergent solution was prepared from a detergent formulation having the following composition (by weight):

25.0% - Sodium tripolyphosphate

7.5% - Sodium dododecylbenzenesulfonate (anionic surfactant)

4.0% - Alcohol ether sulfate (obtained from 1 mole of C₁₆ -C₁₈ alcohol with 1 mole ethylene oxygen (anionic surfactant)

6.5% - Alcohol (C₁₆ -C₁₈) sulfate (anionic surfactant)

1.3% - Polyethylene glycol of about 6000 molecular wt.

35.4% - Sodium sulfate

11.0% - Sodium silicate

8.0% - Moisture

0.8% - Optical brightener

0.5% - Carboxymethylcellulose

Measured quantities of sodium perborate tetrahydrate were added to each vessel to provide the desired quantity of active oxygen (A.O.) followed by an amount of activator compound to give the bleaching A.O. levels. In each test run, the activator was excluded from at least one Terg-O-Tometer vessel. The pH of each solution was adjusted to about 10.0 with sodium carbonate (anhydrous). The Terg-O-Tometer was operated at 100 cycles per minute for 10 or 30 minutes at the desired temperature. The swatches were then removed, rinsed under cold tap water and dried in a household clothing drier. Reflectance readings were taken on each swatch and percent tea stain removal (%TSR) was calculated as follows: ##EQU1## The increase of %TSR, termed Δ%TSR, was calculated by subtracting the average %TSR in runs where the perborate was present alone, from the average %TSR obtained in runs where both the activator and the perborate were present.

The invention is illustrated by the following non-limiting examples.

EXAMPLE 1 ##STR6##

To a round bottom flask containing 150 ml of dichloromethane (CH₂ Cl₂) was added 9.5 g (0.05 mole) of p-toluenesulfonyl chloride and 6.8 g (0.1 mole) of imidazole. The mixture was stirred for five hours at room temperature. The solvent was removed in a rotary evaporator and the residue combined with ice water. The solid product was recovered by filtration, redissolved in CH₂ Cl₂ and dried over sodium sulfate. After removal of CH₂ Cl₂, there was obtained 8.2 g (74% yield) of white solid, melting at 76°-79° C. (lit. 78.0°-78.5° C., G.L.F. Chittenden, Carbohyd. Res. 16, 495, 1971).

EXAMPLE 2 ##STR7##

To a round bottom flask, containing 100 ml of CH₂ Cl₂ was added 6.8 g (0.1 mole) of imidazole and 0.05 mole of benzenesulfonyl chloride. After stirring for 3 hours, the solid was removed by filtration. The filtrate was washed with saturated sodium bicarbonate solution (100 ml) then 100 ml of distilled water. The CH₂ Cl₂ phase was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated, giving 10.0 g (96% yield) of white solid product with m.p. 79°-82° C.

As the Δ%TSR values in Table I clearly demonstrate, the activator compounds of the invention markedly improve the percentage of stain removal compared to the peroxygen bleach compound alone.

Pursuant to the requirements of the patent statutes, the principle of this invention has been explained and exemplified in a manner so that it can be readily practiced by those skilled in the art, such exemplification including what is considered to represent the best embodiment of the invention. However, it should be clearly understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced by those skilled in the art, and having the benefit of this disclosure otherwise than as specifically described and exemplified herein.

                                      Table I                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Bleach Test Results on Sulfonylimidazoles                                                                              Bleach                                                                               Bleach                                          A.O.                                                                              Mole Ratio                                                                           %TSR    Δ%TSR                                                                            Temp. Time                             Example                                                                             Activator ppm                                                                               ACT/PB                                                                               Cotton                                                                             Blend                                                                              Cotton                                                                             Blend                                                                              ° F                                                                           Min.                             __________________________________________________________________________     1    1-(p-tolylsulfonyl)-                                                                     60 1.0   88  75  41  58  105   30                                    imidazole                                                                 1    "         60 0.5   86  68  27  44  105   30                               1    "         30 1.0   86  72  33  46  105   30                               1    "         30 0.5   85  69  32  43  105   30                               1    "         30  0.27 79  62  26  36  105   30                               1    "         60 0.5   76  55  41  45  105   10                               2    phenylsulfonyl-                                                                          60 0.5   86  71  24  32  105   30                                    imidazole                                                                 __________________________________________________________________________      PB = Sodium Perborate Tetrahydrate                                             ACT = Activator                                                           

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for the low temperature bleaching of stained and/or soiled fabrics which comprises treating them with an aqueous peroxygen bleaching solution having a pH of about 6 to about 12 and containing as a peroxygen activator therefor, an effective amount of an N-sulfonylimidazole having the formula: ##STR8## wherein R₂, R₃ and R₄ are each selected from the class consisting of hydrogen, halogen, alkoxy of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, carbonylmethoxy, nitro, an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, a cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical of 3 to 7 carbon atoms, an aromatic hydrocarbon radical of the benzene and naphthalene series and a heterocyclic radical of 1 to 2 rings each containing 5 to 6 members of which 1 to 2 are heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur while taken together R₃ and R₄ can complete a benzene ring and R₁ is a hydrocarbon or heterocyclic radical as above defined for R₂, R₃ and R₄.
 2. The process according to claim 1 wherein the mole ratio of peroxygen to activator is from about 20:1 to about 1:3.
 3. The process according to claim 2 wherein the peroxygen is sodium perborate tetrahydrate.
 4. The process according to claim 2 wherein the quantity of peroxygen is sufficient to provide from about 2 ppm to about 2000 ppm of active oxygen.
 5. The process according to claim 1 wherein the bleach solution contains a detergent agent.
 6. The process according to claim 1 wherein the pH of the bleach solution is maintained by means of a buffering agent.
 7. The process according to claim 1 wherein R₁ in the formula is a hydrocarbon group of the benzene series.
 8. A bleaching composition consisting essentially of a peroxygen bleaching compound and as a peroxygen activator, an N-sulfonylimidazole having the formula: ##STR9## wherein R₂, R₃ and R₄ are each selected from the class consisting of hydrogen, halogen, alkoxy of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, carbonylmethoxy, nitro, an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, a cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical of 3 to 7 carbon atoms, an aromatic hydrocarbon radical of the benzene and naphthalene series and a heterocyclic radical of 1 to 2 rings each containing 5 to 6 members of which 1 to 2 are heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur while taken together R₃ and R₄ can complete a benzene ring and R₁ is a hydrocarbon or heterocyclic radical as above defined for R₂, R₃ and R₄.
 9. The composition according to claim 8 wherein the peroxygen compound is sodium perborate tetrahydrate.
 10. A detergent composition consisting essentially of a detergent agent and the composition defined in claim
 8. 11. A bleaching composition consisting essentially of a peroxygen bleaching compound, an N-sulfonylimidazole having the formula: ##STR10## wherein R₂, R₃ and R₄ are each selected from the class consisting of hydrogen, halogen, alkoxy of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, carbonylmethoxy, nitro, an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, a cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical of 3 to 7 carbon atoms, an aromatic hydrocarbon radical of the benzene and naphthalene series and a heterocyclic radical of 1 to 2 rings each containing 5 to 6 members of which 1 to 2 are heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur while taken together R₃ and R₄ can complete a benzene ring and R₁ is a hydrocarbon or heterocyclic radical as above defined for R₂, R₃ and R₄, and sufficient buffering agent to maintain a pH of about 6 to 12 when the bleaching composition is dissolved in water.
 12. The bleaching composition of claim 11 wherein the mole ratio of peroxygen to activator is from about 20:1 to about 1:3.
 13. The bleaching composition of claim 8 wherein R₁ in the formula is a hydrocarbon group of the benzene series.
 14. A detergent composition consisting essentially of (a) from about 5% to about 50% by weight of the bleaching composition of claim 11, (b) from about 5% to about 50% by weight of a detergent agent; and (c) from about 1% to about 60% by weight of a detergency builder.
 15. The detergent composition of claim 14 wherein the peroxygen is sodium perborate tetrahydrate and the activator of claim 1 wherein R₁ in the formula is a hydrocarbon group of the benzene series. 